BOARD MEMBER NOMINATIONS

NATIONAL MANGO BOARD 2019 NOMINATIONS

The nominations packets have been assembled and sent to the Secretary of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The Secretary makes the final decision on all Board Member appointments. Based on our experience from previous years, the appointments may be announced between November 2018 and February 2019.

Questions about the nominations and appointment process can be directed to Anna Dechamps-Polonia at apolonia@mango.org or by phone at 407-629-7318 x112.

DIVERSITY STATEMENT

The NMB encourages industry members without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, size of business/operation, and marital or family status or other basis protected by U.S. law to participate in NMB activities and seek a position on the NMB.

For each type of position, the process is slightly different. What they have in common is that the industry and the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture each have a role in selecting the individuals who will serve. The NMB staff does not have any role or influence over these decisions.

These are simplified descriptions meant to provide an overview of the process. If you would like to see the detailed nominations process, please contact us.

According to the Information Order, in order to be eligible to serve on the Board as an importer, a person must import 500,000 or more pounds of mangos into the U.S. in a calendar year as a principal or as an agent, broker, or consignee of any person who produces or handles mangos outside of the U.S., and who is listed by the Customs and Border Protection of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security as the importer of record.

As a mango importer, you qualify to nominate yourself or someone else for the importer position on the board in the forthcoming election. If you would like to nominate someone else, you will need to obtain a Statement of Eligibility & Commitment from the other person certifying that he or she meets the eligibility requirements, is willing to be nominated, and if appointed, to serve on the Board. If you are nominating more than one person, please make copies of the form or contact us for additional forms.

Once eligible importers have been identified, a ballot will be prepared and mailed to all eligible importers to determine those importers to be submitted to the Secretary of Agriculture (Secretary) for selection. Two names are needed for the position available. The Secretary will then appoint two importers to serve on the Board.

FIRST HANDLER POSITION

According to the Information Order, in order to be eligible to serve on the Board as a first handler a person (excluding a common or contract carrier) must be engaged in receiving 500,000 or more pounds of mangos from producers in a calendar year and who as owner, agent, or otherwise ships or causes mangos to be shipped as specified in this Order. This definition includes those engaged in the business of buying, selling and/or offering for sale; receiving; packing; grading; marketing; or distributing mangos in commercial quantities. The term first handler includes a producer who handles or markets mangos of the producer’s own production.

As a first handler, you qualify to nominate yourself or someone else for the first handler position on the board in the forthcoming election. If you are interested in serving, please complete and return the enclosed Nomination and Statement of Eligibility & Commitment forms. If you would like to nominate someone else, you will need to obtain a Statement of Eligibility & Commitment from the other person certifying that he or she meets the eligibility requirements, is willing to be nominated, and if appointed, to serve on the Board. If you are nominating more than one person, please make copies of the form or contact us for additional forms.

Once eligible first handlers have been identified, a ballot will be prepared and mailed to all first handlers to determine those first handlers to be submitted to the Secretary of Agriculture (Secretary) for selection. One name is needed for the position available (a total of one names for the current nomination). The Secretary will then appoint one first handler member to serve on the Board.

DOMESTIC PRODUCER POSITION

According to the Information Order, in order to be eligible to serve on the Board as a domestic producer a person must be engaged in the production and sale of mangos in the United States and who owns, or shares the ownership and risk of loss of, the crop or a person who is engaged in the business of producing, or causing to be produced, mangos beyond the person’s own family use and having value at first point of sale to the United States.

If you are interested in serving, please complete and return the enclosed Nomination and Statement of Eligibility & Commitment forms. If you would like to nominate someone else, you will need to obtain a Statement of Eligibility & Commitment from the other person certifying that he or she meets the eligibility requirements, is willing to be nominated, and if appointed, to serve on the Board. If you are nominating more than one person, please make copies of the form or contact us for additional forms.

Once eligible domestic producers have been identified, a ballot will be prepared and mailed to all eligible domestic producers to determine those domestic producers to be submitted to the Secretary of Agriculture (Secretary) for selection. Two names are needed for each position available (a total of two names for the current nomination). The Secretary will then appoint one domestic producer to serve on the Board.

FOREIGN PRODUCER POSITIONS

Information Order, in order to be eligible to serve on the Board as a foreign producer, a person must be engaged in the production and sale of mangos outside of the United States and own, or share the ownership and risk of loss of the crop for sale in the U.S. market or is engaged, outside of the United States, in the business of producing, or causing to be produced, mangos beyond the person’s own family use and having value at first point of sale to the United States.

Once eligible foreign producers have been identified, those foreign producers’ names will be submitted to the Secretary of Agriculture (Secretary) for selection. The Secretary will then appoint two foreign producer members to serve on the Board.

NATIONAL MANGO BOARD MEMBER ROLES AND RESPONSABILITIES

Understand and comply with the Commodity Promotion, Research, and Information Act of 1996 (Act), the Mango Promotion, Research, and Information Order (Order), rules and regulations, and USDA guidelines.

Be dedicated to the mission, goals, and objectives of the Mango Board (Board). Represent the members of the mango industry.

Act as ambassador of the NMB

Speak on behalf of the NMB

Represent NMB to peers

Serve the industry impartially, making decisions based on the welfare of the industry as a whole rather than on personal or business considerations. To ensure fair and equal treatment of all industry peers in market promotion and research programs.

Regularly attend the Mango Board meetings and come prepared to discuss the issues and business to be addressed.

Select Board officers, committees, and subcommittees at the start of each fiscal period or at other appropriate times.

Appoint an executive committee and delegate authority to administer duties under Board direction and within Board policies.

Develop Board policies, bylaws and procedures for approval by USDA for Board implementation, and recommend amendments to rules and regulations under the Order, as necessary.

Develop programs and projects to carry out the mission of the Board (use a fiscal year marketing plan) and forward to USDA for approval prior to implementation. Enter into contracts or agreements to develop and carry out approved programs and projects. Secure USDA approval prior to implementation of contracts and agreements

Demonstrate fiscal responsibility by performing the following: recommend an assessment rate; prepare fiscal budgets; amend budgets as necessary; set a reserve; ensure that the staff issues monthly financial reports and accurate records of Board actions and transactions; ensure that the books of the board are audited each fiscal year; and evaluate the effectiveness of all programs and projects to assure wise stewardship of industry funds.

Ensure efficient and timely enforcement of the Act and Order by staff; ensure identification, investigation/audit of violators and the complete documentation of cases and a timely referral of compliance cases to USDA.

Assist in securing qualified candidates for membership on the Board.

Promote industry unity. Advise the industry of the Board’s mission, goals, objectives, projects and programs. Support the programs, projects, and actions of the Board outside of its meetings.

Maintain the highest standard of personal and professional conduct when representing the Board. Avoid conflicts of interest and appearances of conflicts of interest.

For each position, the nominee who receives the highest number of votes and the nominee who receives the second highest number of votes will be the nominees to be submitted to the Secretary and in this order.

NMB staff will send background forms to these nominees.

NMB staff will submit the number of votes and Background Information forms for each candidate to the Secretary. Out of the nominees’ names submitted for each position, the Secretary will appoint the NMB member.

3. Who is eligible to be nominated or to vote for domestic producers, first handlers, and importers?

All known eligible importers who imported 500,000 pounds or more of fresh mangos into the United States in the last calendar year.

4. Can a company that has office locations in different Districts submit nominees for each of the Districts?

Yes.

5. Can a company that has an office location in only one District submit more than one nominee?

Yes.

6. In the instances an industry member performs multiple tasks, for example, domestic producer, first handler and importer, can this industry member be nominated for all the three (3) categories?

Yes, they can nominate themselves and/or be nominated by their peers to all three (3) categories if they meet the eligibility requirements.

7. How is voting for domestic producer, first handlers, and importers going to be made?

Voting will be made by mail ballot.

8. Can a company that has office locations in different Districts vote in each District?

Yes. For example, if a company operates in both District III and District IV, the company may cast votes for both District III and District IV if seats are available.

9. How is the process for foreign producers going to be conducted?

Foreign producers can nominate themselves or be nominated by a Foreign Mango Organization (FMO).

NMB staff will solicit the names of nominees from known FMOs of the major mango producing countries exporting to the U.S.

FMOs of each country may submit two nominees’ names for each foreign producer position open, i.e. in the current nominations each organization may submit six nominees’ names.

NMB staff will also send a press release to the FMOs and ask them to send it out to the media.

NMB staff will submit the names of all candidates to the Secretary.

Out of the candidates submitted, the Secretary will appoint three NMB members.